Met Police urge Londoners to be vigilant to potential terror attacks

Drive: the Met is trying to increase awareness of security and counter terrorism policing in London (File Picture: Reuters)

Londoners are being urged to be vigilant to the threat of terror attacks in a week long initiative launched today.

Hundreds of officers will be deployed on patrols at Tube and rail stations and in crowded areas such as shopping centres across the capital.

Counter terror officials said the operation was routine but it comes amid increasing fears about the threat posed by British jihadist fighters returning from the Syrian civil war.

Earlier this month a French citizen who had fought in Syria was arrested for killing three people in an attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels.

Thousands of staff from shops and businesses in London are being briefed on their role in spotting suspicious activity in this week’s Operation Griffin initiative.

Commander Simon Bray, of the Met’s Specialist Operations division, said: “Everyone has a role to play in keeping London safe from terrorism. This operation sees specialist officers working closely with neighbourhood officers and communities raising awareness of security in London.

“The threat to London from terrorism remains real and serious so we encourage the public to remain vigilant and alert and to report anything suspicious to police.”

Three police forces are taking part in this week’s operation which involves neighbourhood police and specialist officers including the mounted branch and the marine support unit.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Thomas of British Transport Police said: “It is vitally important that we do not get complacent, and the vigilance of passengers and staff remains a crucial element - with more than six million people travelling every day, we have millions of eyes and ears across the whole system – a surveillance resource second to none.”

Anyone who has any information about unusual activity or behaviour should contact the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.